U.S. patent application number 11/911180 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-03 for food stuff dispenser integrated into a refrigerator housing.
This patent application is currently assigned to Teknoloji Dizayn Studyo Produksiyon Ve Reklamchlik Anonim Sirketi. Invention is credited to Murat Armagan, Kerem Guvenc, Alphan Manas.
Application Number | 20090217683 11/911180 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35985201 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090217683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Manas; Alphan ; et
al. |
September 3, 2009 |
Food Stuff Dispenser Integrated into a Refrigerator Housing
Abstract
The apparatus provides a food storage and presentation
mechanism, which preserves the food stuff and provides a handy way
to take out the desired amount of food when necessary, where by the
food stuff is stored in cartridges positioned in a housing. The
cartridges can easily removed from their receiving slots and can be
filled with food/food stuff. Furthermore, the apparatus allows
liquid drinks such as fruit juice etc. to be taken out of the unit
without taking the box out by positioning the said box packages,
which allows the self packages of the drinks to be used.
Inventors: |
Manas; Alphan; (Istanbul,
TR) ; Guvenc; Kerem; (Istanbul, TR) ; Armagan;
Murat; (Istanbul, TR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AKERMAN SENTERFITT
P.O. BOX 3188
WEST PALM BEACH
FL
33402-3188
US
|
Assignee: |
Teknoloji Dizayn Studyo Produksiyon
Ve Reklamchlik Anonim Sirketi
Istanbul
TR
|
Family ID: |
35985201 |
Appl. No.: |
11/911180 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
September 15, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/TR05/00045 |
371 Date: |
March 27, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/129 ; 62/132;
62/389; 62/449 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D 3/0009 20130101;
F25D 23/126 20130101; F25D 2700/06 20130101; F25D 25/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/129 ; 62/449;
62/132; 62/389 |
International
Class: |
G01K 13/00 20060101
G01K013/00; F25D 23/02 20060101 F25D023/02; F25B 49/00 20060101
F25B049/00; B67D 5/62 20060101 B67D005/62 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 13, 2005 |
TR |
2005/01346 |
Apr 29, 2005 |
TR |
2005/01588 |
Jul 12, 2005 |
TR |
2005/02707 |
Claims
1. A mechanism for food stuff especially to store in cooling units,
comprising: at least one food storage compartment, at least one
compartment slot in order to attach and de-attach the said food
storage compartment to said storage mechanism, at least one
compartment opening in order to fill and take out the food staff to
the said compartment, and at least one control member in order to
take the food stuff out of the compartment easily.
2. The storage mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising
at least one compartment opening stopper wherein after the food
storage compartment is filled, the opening of said food storage
compartment is closed with the opening stopper and the food storage
compartment is will be settled in said compartment slot in a
reversed position.
3. The storage mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a
quantity sensor in order to determine the amount of food put inside
the compartment.
4. The storage mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the quantity
sensor is formed by placing at least one insulator between at least
two conductor panels.
5. The storage mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the quantity
sensor produces an alternating electric current depending on the
pressure that the food applies in the compartment, and comprises
connection ends in order to sense the changes in the said electric
current.
6. The storage mechanism according to claim 3, further comprising
electrical connection slots that are for the connection ends of
said quantity sensor and that transmit the electrical information
obtained to the related units of the cooling unit.
7. The storage mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising
at least one food egress in said compartment slot and an electric
mechanism that opens or closes the food egress when said control
member is pushed or pulled.
8. The storage mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a liquid
transfer channel is to be placed in said food storage compartment
in order to take liquid food stuff by pumping, and said food
storage compartment is settled into the compartment slot in a way
that it is fixed by using a fixing handle.
9. The storage mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the said
control member is connected to said liquid transfer channel for the
liquid food stuff.
10. The storage mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising
at least one liquid discharge channel which is connected to the
control member at one end and is connected a product presentation
compartment at the other end.
11. The storage mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising
a storing mechanism that allows a number of distribution
compartments to be stored, preferably in the cooling unit, side by
side or back of each other.
12. The storage mechanism according to claim 11, further comprising
at least one compartment slot connection member on which the said
compartment slots can be positioned in desired order.
13. The storage mechanism according to claim 12, further comprising
a cover which is positioned in front of the compartment slot
connection member, and which constitutes the external appearance of
the unit, and comprises at least one body, which allows the storing
mechanism to be positioned in the cooling unit and allow it to work
as a separate unit when desired.
14. The food storage mechanism according to claim 1, further
comprising at least one information lamp that is positioned on the
compartment and/or compartment slot in order to inform the user by
warning light about the expiration date of the product.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Present Invention is about a food storage and presentation
mechanism that can produce data about the stored food amount, and
it is developed to store and use dry or watery food stuff.
PRIOR TECHNIQUE
[0002] In present applications, food stuff are being preserved in
refrigerators, various cooling units, in a cabinet or any other
media, and present bag, package, covering of the food or a separate
jar or a preserving pot is used.
[0003] When the food stuff are thought that they are to be
preserved in their own bag or covering, the said packages are
getting deformed and being torn or getting pierced from a weak part
of the package, because the bags and coverings in the market are
not enduring or they get old of being continuously used. Whereon,
the dry food stuff are scattered inside the cooling unit or cabinet
and they cause situations that can hardly be cleaned.
[0004] Preservation of the food stuff in separate jars or
preserving pots in cooling units or cabinets also causes some
drawbacks in usage, besides the point of view of untidy and
scattered appearance in the unit. While taking the pot out of the
cabinet or refrigerator, possibility of falling down and breaking
of a glass pot by slipping through hand, and mixing of the dry food
and glass pieces, is always there and it is such a bad situation
that many people face. Preserving the food in an unbreakable
plastic preserving pot causes some drawbacks in the point of view
of energy spent and the long time preservation of the food stuff,
because the unused part of the food also have to be taken out of
the unit wholly and it has to be rest in the outside environment to
equalize with the environmental temperature, and again it has to be
put back into the unit.
[0005] Various vegetable oils should be preserved in cooling units
to be kept and consumed healthy. In prior technique, the said
products were placed on the racks in the cooling units.
[0006] Those products that are not fixed in the cooling units falls
down and spread around, thus damage the cooling unit. In addition
to that, expiration dates of the products and the stock amounts
cannot be followed, and so the products spoil even before they are
consumed. Nonetheless, the products are taken out in their packages
to be used and consumed.
[0007] The liquid food stuff that are stored in the cooling units
are stored in their packages and stored as piles. The products are
taken out and used, when they are to be consumed. Because the
expiration dates of the said products cannot be checked regularly,
the products that are expired become unusable before they are
consumed, and the product consuming costs rise.
[0008] In patent numbered U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,219 is mentioned an
apparatus that is especially used to serve out the frequently
consumed liquids such as milk and fruit juices. It is mentioned
that it comprises a control member--a handle for the disposable
packages or re-usable packages to be settled in the slot to take
out the liquids in desired amounts.
[0009] In conclusion, the necessity of a food storage mechanism
that provides preservation of the food stuff in cooling units or in
any other media, that offers a handy way to take out the food stuff
in desired amounts by the user, and which has the ability to
produce the data that informs the user about the remaining amount
of food, and has the ability to follow the stocks, and the
inadequacy of the present solutions make it obligatory to have
technical improvements in technical field.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention is about the food storage mechanism
that meets the above requirements eliminating all the disadvantages
and bringing new advantages.
[0011] The purpose of the invention is to introduce a food storage
and presentation mechanism, which preserves the food stuff and
provides a handy way to take out the desired amount of food when
necessary.
[0012] Another purpose of the invention is to introduce a food
storage and presentation mechanism, where the food stuff are stored
in preset compartments positioned in the body instead of their own
packages or coverings, and the said compartments can practically
removed from their slots and can be filled with food/food stuff,
and the compartments can easily settled back to their slots and can
get easily get ready to use.
[0013] Another purpose of the invention is to introduce a food
storage and presentation mechanism, which allows liquid drinks such
as fruit juice etc. to be taken out of the unit without taking the
box out by positioning the said box packages, which allows the self
packages of the drinks to be used.
[0014] Another purpose of the invention is to introduce a food
storage and presentation mechanism, where the food stuff are stored
in compartments that are positioned in a body, where the data about
the food stuff in the said compartments can be produced and can be
sent to a control unit.
[0015] Another purpose of the invention is to introduce a food
storage and presentation mechanism, which allows to position the
food stuff in their own packages or in a preserving compartment in
a closed media, and allows to take the food stuff out practically
and in desired amounts when needed, not necessarily taking the said
compartments or packages out.
[0016] To achieve all the advantages that are said above and will
be clarified from the explanations below, the present invention is
a mechanism to store the food especially in cooling units, and it
comprises a food storage compartment a compartment slot that is
needed by the food storage compartment to be attached and
de-attached on the storage mechanism, a compartment opening to fill
and empty the food stuff into the compartment, and a control member
that allows to take the food stuff out from the compartment
easily.
[0017] A preferable embodiment of the invention also comprises a
compartment opening stopper, and after the food storage compartment
is filled, the stopper is placed on the food storage compartment
opening and is closed and reversed and settled into the compartment
slot.
[0018] A preferable embodiment of the invention also comprises a
quantity sensor to determine the food amount that is placed in the
compartment.
[0019] In a preferable embodiment of the invention, also the
quantity sensor is made by putting an insulator between two
conductive panels.
[0020] A preferable embodiment of the invention also comprises
connection ends (1.4.4) in order to sense the changes in the
electric current, when the quantity sensor produces different
electric currents depending on the pressure that is applied by the
food stuff placed in the said compartment.
[0021] A preferable embodiment of the invention also comprises
electrical connection slots for each connection end that transmit
the electrical information to the related parts of the cooling
unit.
[0022] A preferable embodiment of the invention also comprises a
food egress in compartment slot, and is an electrical mechanism
that opens or closes the said food egress, when the control member
is pushed or pulled.
[0023] A preferable embodiment of the invention also requires the
placement of a liquid transfer channel inside the food storage
compartment in order to suck preferably the liquid food stuff from
the compartment by pump, and the food storage compartment is
settled into the compartment slot by using a fixing latch.
[0024] A preferable embodiment of the invention also connects the
control member with the liquid transfer channel, especially for the
liquid food stuff.
[0025] A preferable embodiment of the Invention also comprises a
liquid discharging channel, which is connected to the control
member in one end and connected to a product presentation
compartment in the other end.
[0026] A preferable embodiment of the invention also comprises a
storing mechanism that allows a number of distribution compartments
to be stored, preferably in the cooling unit, side by side or back
of each other.
[0027] A preferable embodiment of the invention also comprises a
compartment slot connection member on which the compartment slots
can be positioned in desired order.
[0028] A preferable embodiment of the invention also comprises a
cover, which is positioned in front of the compartment slot
connection member, and which constitutes the external appearance
and comprises a body, which allows the storing mechanism to be
positioned in the cooling unit and allow it to work as a separate
unit when desired.
[0029] A preferable embodiment of the invention also comprises an
information lamp that is positioned on the compartment and/or
compartment slot in order to inform the user by warning light about
the expiration date of the product, according to the product data
entered from the control unit.
[0030] The structural and characteristic properties of the
invention and all of its advantages will be clarified by the
figures given below and the detailed explanations about those
figures and therefore, evaluation should be done considering these
figures and detailed explanations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0031] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of food storage
compartment.
[0032] FIGS. 2a, b depicts a perspective figure that shows the food
storage compartment and the slot in which the compartment will be
positioned and the relation between those.
[0033] FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of taking the food out
of the food storage compartment.
[0034] FIGS. 4a, b, c depicts a preferable embodiment of the food
storage mechanism of said invention.
[0035] FIGS. 5a, b, depicts perspective pictures of another
preferable embodiment of the said invention.
[0036] FIG. 6 depicts a front view of another preferable embodiment
the food storage mechanism of the said invention.
REFERENCE NUMBERS USED IN THE FIGURES
[0037] 1. Food storage compartment [0038] 1.1 Etiquette field
[0039] 1.2 Compartment opening [0040] 1.3 Compartment opening
stopper [0041] 1.4 Quantity sensor [0042] 1.4.1 Conductor panels
[0043] 1.4.2 Insulator member [0044] 1.4.3 Conductive bands [0045]
1.4.4 Connection ends [0046] 2. Compartment Slot [0047] 2.1
Etiquette field [0048] 2.2 Control member [0049] 2.3 Electrical
connection slots [0050] 2.4 Food egress [0051] 3. Storing mechanism
[0052] 3.1 Compartment slot connection member [0053] 3.2 Cover
[0054] 3.3 Body [0055] 4. Liquid transfer channel [0056] 5. Fixing
latch [0057] 6. Product presentation compartment [0058] 7. Liquid
discharge channel [0059] 8. Information lamp
DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION
[0060] In this detailed explanation, the preferred embodiment of
the food storing and presentation mechanism, which is the subject
of this invention, is explained as an example aiming to clarify the
subject without producing any limiting effect.
[0061] The food storage compartment (1) seen in FIG. 1 basically
comprises an etiquette field (1.1) In front side, where a
preferably picture etiquette can be stick, signifying what kind of
food is inside, also comprises a compartment opening (1.2) to fill
and then take out the food, a compartment opening stopper (1.3)
that prevents the food from falling down after filling, a quantity
sensor (1.4) that produces electrical information about the
quantity of the food according to the pressure applied by the food
stuff.
[0062] As it can be seen in FIG. 2, the food storage compartment
(1) is settled in a compartment slot (2). And the compartment slot
(2) comprises electrical connection slots (2.3) in order to provide
electrical connection with the connection ends (1.4.4) of the
quantity sensor (1.4) that is preferably positioned in the
compartment (1), comprises an etiquette field (2.1) where an
informative etiquette about the type of the food can be placed, a
control member (2.2) preferably embodied in the shape of a latch,
which allows the food to be taken out, and food egress (2.4), which
allows the food to be taken out through control member (2.2).
[0063] In the cross-sectional view in FIG. 3, it is shown that how
the food stuff in a full compartment (1) is taken out through the
said control member (2.2). When the control member (2.2), which is
preferably embodied in the shape of a latch, is preferably moved
towards the front side of the compartment (1) by the user, the food
egress (2.4) is opened and food is allowed to go out. The said
latch (2.2) preferably comprises a spring mechanism and when
released, it automatically closes the food egress (2.4).
[0064] In FIG. 4, a preferred embodiment of a storage mechanism (3)
that is formed by positioning of more than one compartment (1) and
compartment slot (2), side by side and at the back of each other,
by storage mechanism is shown. The storage mechanism (3) is
embodied preferably as in the shape of a drawer. However, different
embodiments are also possible. In this preferred embodiment, all of
the compartment slots (2) are mantled on the compartment slot
connection member (3.1), which is positioned in the middle of the
drawer perpendicularly. In this way, it is possible to position the
compartment slots (2) side by side or at the back of each other. A
cover (3.2) is attached on the front side in order to provide both
wholeness with the cooling unit or the environment, and to provide
forward-backward movement of the compartment slot connection member
(3.1). All the compartments (1) can be included in a body (3.3) by
the help of a pulling-pushing space that is opened on the cover
(3.2) to take the hand inside. The said body (1) preferably
comprises cooling members and allows the food stuff in all of the
compartments (1) to be kept in cool media. Each compartment (1) can
be separately removed from the compartment slots (2) practically,
and the food can be filled through the compartment opening (1.2),
which is the only opening. After the said opening (1.2) is closed
with the compartment opening stopper (1.3), compartment (1) is
reversed and can be settled into the compartment slot (2). After
filling the compartments (1) as desired, they are dragged to their
place by cover (3.2) and settled in the body (3.3).
[0065] The picture related to the storage and presentation
mechanism of liquid food stuff such as oil etc., which is another
application and embodiment of the invention, can be seen in FIG. 5a
and FIG. 5b. In the said applications, in a preferred area of the
cooling unit, a body (3.3) is embodied. A body cover (3.2) is
positioned on the body (3.3) through a sliding mechanism.
[0066] The said cover (3.2) can move forward.about.backward on the
slot. Many compartment slots (2) are formed on the said cover
(3.2). On each slot (2) over each compartment slot (2), a fixing
latch (5) is constructed to fix the product or compartment (1).
[0067] Product presentation compartment (6) where the product is
presented to the consumer is placed on the front side of the body
cover (3.2). The connection between the compartment slot (2) and
presentation compartment (6) is done with a liquid discharge
channel (4). One end of the liquid discharge channel (4) is
positioned in the compartment or the product (1) that is settled in
the compartment or product slot (2).
[0068] The product (1) that has been introduced to the control unit
is positioned in the product slot (2) and the product (6) is
settled in its package through transfer pipe or liquid discharge
channel (4). Through the said transfer pipe (4), the packaged
liquid oil is passed to the presentation compartment (6). The food
stuff is taken into the presentation pot, which is inside of the
product or compartment (1) through a control member or a tap (2.2)
on the product presentation compartment (6).
[0069] Whenever a compartment (1) is filled with a food stuff, an
electrical signal is produced in the quantity sensor (1.4) on the
base, to determine the fullness of the compartment (1). Here, by
the insulator member (1.4.2) that is positioned between two
conductive panels (1.4.1), the pressure that food applies on the
base of the compartment (1) and thus the amount of fullness can be
determined. When the compartment (1) is filled fully, the pressure
applied will be more and the resistances of the conductive panels
reduce, and the amount of electrical current in the circuits that
they are connected rise respectively. As the food stuff is
discharged from the compartment (1), the pressure applied to the
base, thus to the quantity sensor (1.4) decreases. And this will
increase the resistance so the current passing through the two ends
will decrease in the same rate. Therefore, a change in the
electrical current directly proportional to the pressure applied
can be obtained in the connection ends (1.4.4) of the quantity
sensor through the conductive bands (1.4.3) in this preferred type
of embodiment that is used to measure the quantity. Thus, by a
control unit in the cooling unit or in the system, this data can be
converted to quantity data. The user can determine the amount of
food stuff left in the compartments (1) using this data, which can
be reflected in a screen.
[0070] In FIG. 6, a picture of the liquid storage and presentation
mechanism in cooling units or in closed media that the invention is
applied on, is shown. In the said application, there are many
compartment slot (2) formed on the body of the cooling unit.
[0071] Liquid transfer channel (4) is positioned in the holes
opened on the said slots (2). The said liquid transfer channel (4)
is connected to the liquid discharge channel (7). A control member
(2.2) is constructed on the connection point of the liquid to
discharge channel (7) and the liquid transfer channel (4). The said
control member (2.2) supervises the liquid transfer from the liquid
transfer channel (4) to liquid discharge channel (7). The liquid
discharge channel (7) is connected to the tap in the product
presentation compartment (6). The products that are to be presented
are positioned into the slots (2) in a package or storage
compartment (1). When the product package or storage compartment
(1) is placed in the slot (2), liquid transfer channel (4) is
positioned on the opening on the package or compartment (1).
[0072] When the product package or compartment (1) that is already
introduced to the control unit of the cooling unit is placed in the
slot (2), the information lamp (8) that is constructed on the slot
(2) becomes active. When the expiration date of the product
approaches or comes, lamp (8) warns the user by flashing. A mixture
can be obtained by transferring the various fruit juices or drinks
that are placed in multiple slots (2) in desired amounts, to the
discharge or mixing channel (7).
[0073] The extent of the protection of this application is
specified in the claims section, and it cannot be restricted to the
representative application given above in this section. It is
obvious that an skilled person in the art may introduce the changes
brought by the invention using similar structures and/or may apply
those in other fields. Therefore, it is also obvious that those
kinds of structures will lack of the criterion that is about
improving the present technique.
* * * * *